Mohamed Abduba Dida, once a prominent figure in Kenya’s political scene, is currently serving a nine-year prison sentence in the United States.
Dida first came into the limelight in 2013 when he unexpectedly joined the race for the presidency, challenging established politicians like Raila Odinga and Uhuru Kenyatta.
His candid approach and unorthodox campaign style earned him a significant following.
However, Dida’s political career has taken a dramatic turn, leading him from the public spotlight to a prison cell in Illinois.
Dida has been serving his sentence since November 18, 2022, after being convicted of stalking and intimidating an unidentified individual in McLean County, Illinois.
The exact circumstances of his presence in the U.S. remain unclear—whether he had relocated there or was visiting when the crimes were committed.
During the trial, Dida faced two charges: stalking and transmitting threats, and aggravated stalking, which involved violating a restraining order against the victim.
He was sentenced to two years in prison for the first offense and seven years for the second, leading to a combined sentence of nine years. Dida is scheduled for release on April 3, 2029.
Dida’s political journey was marked by his surprising entry into the 2013 Kenyan presidential race.
With just a month to the election, he announced his candidacy alongside his running mate, Joshua Odongo. Despite limited resources and time, Dida finished fifth with 54,840 votes, outperforming political heavyweights such as Martha Karua and Paul Muite. In 2017, he tried his luck again, this time with running mate Titus Ngetuny, finishing fourth.
